Exams will continue as scheduled despite the disruptions to Monday’s practical exams in some city colleges, university officials said on Monday. Bhavya Dore reports.

Exams will continue as scheduled despite the disruptions to Monday’s practical exams in some city colleges, university officials said on Monday.

“We are requesting teachers to help us conduct the exams and will pursue their valid demands with the state government,” said Naresh Chandra, pro vice chancellor of the university. “The exam schedule will be the same.”

Practical exams for third year BSc students did not take place in some colleges because of the ongoing teachers’ boycott of all exam-related work.

While university officials said most students were able to appear for the exams and those who couldn’t will be given an alternate date, teachers said that in some cases practical exams were being conducted flouting university rules, with not enough teachers present.

“We were shocked by observing that, out of four external examiners required for conducting the examinations at TYBsc level with only two external examiners the practical was conducted flouting the norms,” said a letter sent by a senate member, teacher and activist, to the governor on Monday about one suburban college, and asking for an inquiry into the matter.

University officials, however, denied any wrongdoing. “No rules were flouted,” said DG Wasave, controller of exams.

After a hastily-held board of examinations meeting on Monday, university officials have decided to proceed with the exam schedule. “We decided that postponement will cause more problems,” said Wasave, “We will not let students suffer.”

Teachers’ unions across eight universities in the state had decided to boycott all exam-related work last month because of the government’s failure to satisfy 13 pending demands.

“The university needs to gracefully accept the situation,” said one teacher. “They need to postpone the exams until matters are sorted out.”